Osimhen UCL return

Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has been warned against making a return against Leece in the Serie A on Friday (today) by the Napoli medical team who are hopeful that he will be able to return for the UCL tie against Milan, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Osimhen is eager to get back on the field and according to him, he doesn’t feel any annoyance after the injury and would have liked to be in the team to face Lecce but was prevented from doing so by the medical team.

According to Italian publication, Il Mattino, “If it were up to Victor Osimhen, he would have already taken part in tomorrow’s away match against Lecce. The striker feels good and doesn’t feel any discomfort. However, it was the medical staff who stopped his eagerness because, even if the centre-forward’s sensations are very positive, the injury is still there and hasn’t completely healed.

“Throwing a sprinter like Victor (Osimhen) into the fray, with this muscle problem not fully healed at the base, would be too great a gamble”, reports the Campania newspaper.

All indications point at a return for the Nigeria international for the match against fellow Italian side AC Milan in the Champions League April 12, likely making an appearance on the bench and not certain to start, but this will be decided in the coming days.

Spalletti has ruled the 24-year-old out of the upcoming league game against Lecce but provided a positive update about the upcoming European tie.

He told Sky Sport Italia; “Osimhen? There’s no chance tomorrow. From a planning point of view, there are many possibilities to see him for the next match, but we have to wait for next week’s developments.”

Spalletti also added that Giacomo Raspadori is in contention for a start against Lecce in the absence of Osimhen.

The Italian forward returned to action last week after recovering from injury and had some minutes against Milan.

Giovanni Simeone could also get another start if Spalletti decides to rest in-form winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Napoli will look to return to winning ways after their setback against Milan, which marked their third defeat in Serie A this season.

Although the consequences are not significant – Napoli are 16 points clear at the top – they don’t want to let their momentum slip ahead of next week’s UCL clash against Stefano Pioli’s side.

The first leg of the quarter-finals will be played at San Siro, and the Partenopei will be keen to settle the score.